India’s second wave of COVID-19 has plunged the country into the world’s largest health crisis, and the situation could get worse in the coming weeks. Each day in India, close to half a million new cases are reported, and almost 4000 people die. Last week, India accounted for nearly 50 percent of global cases and 25 percent of global deaths. And these numbers may be significantly less than the reality of how bad the situation in India truly is.

Hospitals have run out of beds and oxygen while morgues and crematoriums overflow with the dead. Doctors are overworked and exhausted. State leaders are considering lockdown orders as they contemplate the potential of a spiraling economic crisis. 

Many in India are overwhelmed with despair and grief. Several Acts 29 India pastors have shared over the last few weeks the difficulties faced and suffering experienced. One church planter said, “As people who trust in the Sovereign and good Lord, it is a battle in our hearts as we try to make sense of what really is happening. In the last one week, I have heard many cry out, ‘How long, O Lord?’”

Acts 29 is a global community of churches united by the blood of Jesus with a shared conviction that the local church is the means by which Christ is proclaimed and made known. So as our brothers and sisters in India are confronted with such great suffering, may we, as a global community, come before the throne of God together with them. 

Below are several ways you and your church can pray for India. 

• Pray that God would bring healing to India. 
• Pray for grieving families to be comforted.
• Pray for divine wisdom and compassion to be given to the leaders in India.
• Pray for the health and safety of frontline workers in India. 
• Pray that the supply of oxygen, medicines, vaccinations, and hospital beds will be restored. 
• Pray for provision for those who have lost income sources and face uncertain futures.
• Pray for the church in India to hold fast to Christ, for pastors to shepherd their people well, and for Christians to be salt and light amid death and darkness. 

There are several Acts 29 churches and candidate churches throughout India. These churches are faithfully serving in the midst of incredible circumstances. If you would like to connect with one of these churches to pray with and for them more directly, or learn about relief opportunities with like-minded organizations, please contact the Emerging Regions team. 

Even amid dark days of trial for India, we can trust that God is a refuge for his people, and we mustn’t hold back from serving with love and truth. We call on all Acts 29 churches to pray that the Lord, in his rich mercy, would bring an end to the pandemic sufferings of India and that Jesus would be known among every tribe and tongue of her peoples.